Renowned classicist Emily Wilson captivated a full house at Georgetown University’s Gaston Hall as she explored the themes of “Destiny, Tradition, Choice.” The event drew an enthusiastic audience on-site, while thousands more engaged through live streaming.

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This lecture marked the second installment of Wilson’s three-part series, titled “The Myth, Magic, and Mystery of the Ancient Greeks: Exploring the Connections to Contemporary Culture.” Hosted by the American School’s Gennadius Library, these lectures are part of the 2023-2024 Annual Thalia Potamianos Lecture Series. The first one on “The Vulnerability of Heroism” took place last October in Athens, Greece. Wilson’s third and final lecture, “The Wisdom of Stories,” will be on May 8, 2024, at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City. It will be live-streamed and simulcast in Greek.  

Wilson has earned widespread recognition and praise in recent years for her acclaimed translations of Homer’s Odyssey (2017) and the Iliad (September 2023) “I am thrilled to be a part of this season’s Thalia Potamianos Lecture Series, which provides a platform to examine the profound influence of ancient Greece on our contemporary world,” said Wilson. “By fostering dialogue and intellectual exchange, we hope to broaden our understanding of the past and its impact on the present.” 

Dr. Maria Georgopoulou, Director of the Gennadius Library said, “We are delighted to host such a brilliant, spirited classicist, who does not shy away from reinterpreting ancient texts through translation in order to showcase how connected they are with our world today.” 

 

Dr. Emily Wilson lectures on Destiny, Tradition, Choise before a capacity crowd at Georgetown University

 


Maria Georgopoulou, Director of the Gennadius Library, inroduces Martha Barnette

 

Martha Barnette, co-host of the polular radio show "A Way With Words", introduces Dr. Emily Wilson
 

Capacity audience, captivated by Dr. Emily Wilson, at Georgetown Unibersity